‘It’s Just Not Something I Would Answer’: Trump Sidesteps Question on Pre-Emptive Strikes Against Iran
Trump greets supporters during a campaign event at the Rocky Mount Event Center. (Image Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
At a press conference held Monday at Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Donald Trump dismissed a CNN reporter’s inquiry about how he plans to address rising tensions with Iran. The exchange highlighted Trump’s reluctance to reveal his strategy on foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Would you be in support of pre-emptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear targets?” the reporter asked. Trump responded with visible frustration, refusing to give a direct answer. “How could I tell you a thing like that? Now? It’s just — so you don’t talk about that before something,” he said.
He continued: “May or may not happen, you know… just. Well, you know, I don’t want to insult you. I just think — it’s just not something that I would never answer having to do with there or any other place in the world.”
The question comes amid growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and its strained relations with the United States. During Trump’s first administration, he made Iran a significant foreign policy focus, withdrawing the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. The agreement, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, sought to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Following the withdrawal, tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated, with economic sanctions reimposed and military confrontations becoming more frequent. The JCPOA was never reinstated during President Biden’s term, and Trump’s return to office raises questions about whether his administration will adopt a more confrontational stance.
In September, Trump suggested he might reconsider negotiating a new agreement with Iran but provided no concrete details. His ambiguous response during Monday’s press conference does little to clarify his current position.
Trump’s unwillingness to publicly commit to any action aligns with his approach to foreign policy—keeping adversaries guessing while maintaining a tough posture. However, it also leaves significant uncertainty about how the U.S. will handle a potentially volatile situation in the Middle East under his leadership.
As Iran’s nuclear program remains a global concern, Trump’s response—or lack thereof—adds to the speculation over how his administration plans to address one of the most pressing foreign policy challenges.
